Cooler weather brings about thoughts of huntingYes, it is late July, but it has been anything but typical as we have seen some of the coolest temperatures on record and a good number of folks already have hunting season on their mind. Dove season is quickly approaching. I know a few hunters who have taken advantage of the cool weather by doing a little squirrel hunting which opened on May 15 and stays open until the end of Feb. July is normally a month of tremendous heat and a few days spe...

When in doubt, just use common courtesyYou’re throwing your favorite chartreuse and white spinner bait along your favorite bank in the lake. The next section of bank is really your favorite. There are three tree-tops that you’ve caught countless bass in and just last week you had one break off with your favorite lure. You can see the tops in the distance and you’re really just killing time until you get there. A boat appears out of nowhere and pulls in a hundred yards down the bank...

Vikings cut former Cyclone HallThe Minnesota Vikings waived former Russellville Cyclones lineman Matt Hall alongside former Cleveland Browns wide receiver Josh Cooper after the first day of team camp. The pair dutifully reported for camp Thursday and walkthroughs Friday but were cut by the end of practice. “It was just a numbers thing,” Hall said. “We had an injured player and they needed to pick a few guys to fill his role, so numbers is what got me.” Hall, who also played...

All new arkansastechsports.com launches todayThe official website of Arkansas Tech University athletics — www.arkansastechsports.com — relaunched today with a completely new design. The website was redesigned by SIDEARM Sports (www.sidearmsports.com) and features an updated look with improved navigation to access information on all 10 Arkansas Tech athletics programs. The new design places a heavy emphasis on fan experience and delivering content in a streamlined fashion. Social media an...

by
ATU Sports InformationThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Upgrades begin at M.J. Hickey ParkThe Russellville School District (RSD) moved forward on plans to upgrade the baseball and softball fields at M.J. Hickey Park this week with the removal of all four dugouts. Russellville athletic director Johnny Johnson said it was the first step in a multi-phase plan to upgrade the facility by the start of next season. Planning began earlier this year but came to a halt when it was determined that school board appropriated funds could not be ...

It's much more than a gameAny coach will tell you, “It’s not whether you win or lose — it’s how you play the game.” Yet, some players turn up to every practice, run every drill and take every hit, but rarely step on the court or field on game night. They are sometimes called bench warmers. But many would take offense to the laziness such a term implies. Many know going in they’ll never start, but they turn up anyway. “I never questioned whether or not I’d get to start,...

Parker tabbed assistant women's soccer coachCLARKSVILLE — Samantha Parker was named the new assistant women’s soccer coach at the University of the Ozarks, athletics director Jimmy Clark announced Wednesday. Parker, a native of Dallas, Texas, has extensive soccer experience at various levels, including interning with the FC Dallas Youth team and the Women’s Premier Soccer League. Parker worked with academy teams and assisted in the day-to-day operations for the FC Dallas youth developme...

Excitement building for new RHS gymWith the skeleton of Russellville High School’s incoming $12.5 million dollar gymnasium casting a shadow across campus, anticipation and excitement is growing among coaches, students and fans alike. The current gymnasium carries the weight of around 40 years of regular use, logos and signs long since retired, as well as inadequate practice space for Russellville’s basketball, volleyball and wrestling teams. The new arena is more than a welcome...

Post 20 ends season with lossCONWAY — The Russellville American Legion Post 20 baseball team ended its season on a 7-4 loss to the North Little Rock Colts at Hendrix University on Monday. The Patriots (9-6) led 3-2 after the sixth inning, but North Little Rock slipped ahead 4-3 in the ninth. Post 20 answered to tie the game and forced an extra inning, but the Colts scored three unanswered to close out the game and send Russellville packing until next summer. Jacob Boles’ ...

by
Courier sports staffThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

Post 20 streak endsCONWAY — The Russellville American Legion Post 20 baseball team saw their eight-game winning streak end on a forfeit on Saturday due to insufficient roster requirements. The American Legion requires 12 players on each team in order to play, but Post 20 had only nine available. Russellville played again on Sunday against the Bentonville American Legion at Hendrix University in Conway. With a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning, Bentonville hit a sac...

ATU hosts volleyball team campsThe second annual Arkansas Tech University (ATU) volleyball team camp is underway inside Tucker Coliseum. The event has attracted 12 varsity and eight junior varsity teams from across the state to ATU for a chance to hone their skills against a variety of different opponents of different skill levels. Golden Suns head coach Kristy Bayer began the event last year because she saw a need for something affordable and centrally located for nearby v...

The pressures of life as a coaching coupleEditor’s note: This is the final story in a series detailing the ups and downs of being married to a coach. For similar stories go to www.couriernews.com. Cindy Jones knows exactly what kind of stress and pressure is involved in coaching young athletes. She’s spent the last 19 years both married to a coach and coaching volleyball. Jones has been the Lady Cyclones volleyball head coach for the last 16 years, with the Russellville School Distric...

A perfect week for TBF High School World FinalsJust as youngsters from all across the nation and world are starting to convene, mother nature threw a curve ball at the Arkansas River Valley that is sure to be appreciated by everyone associated with the 2014 TBF High School world Finals. Typical hot July weather was expected by all, but as the competition got underway on Wednesday the participants were greeted with fall-like weather that may or may not affect the fishing, but will definitel...

Get the lead out, pleaseI received a couple of emails the other day stating that the nation’s last primary lead smelting plant (those guys that produce lead for ammunition) was shuttered at the end of 2013. It was a back door effort by our nation’s current liberal administration for gun control, the email stated. Apparently, The Doe Run Company located in Missouri was shut down because of stringent EPA regulations that it couldn’t afford to adhere to. Since I can’t f...

Post 20 win streak one game at a timeThe Russellville American Legion Post 20 baseball team opened its season with four straight losses earlier this summer. But when things finally turned around, they did so in a big way. With the state tournament drawing closer, Post 20 (9-4) is on the heels of an eight-game win streak. Russellville head coach Caleb Powers said it was like a switch came on. “They’ve just been playing really well,” he said. “We’re hitting the ball, putting up som...

Local duo 5 ounces shy of TBF championshipThe River Valley High School Fishing team of Tanner Tackett and Tanner Jones came up five ounces short of The Bass Federation (TBF) High School Fishing World Finals championship on Saturday at Lake Dardanelle. The pair finished fourth in Friday's semifinals with a five-fish limit of 12.09 pounds and hauled in an even more impressive 16.03 pounds on Saturday — including a monster 5.04 pounder — to take second place overall. Prior to the tournam...

Three River Valley teams reach fishing finalsThree River Valley High School Fishing teams moved into The Bass Federation (TBF) High School Fishing World Finals after Friday’s semifinals and “second-chance” round at Lake Dardanelle State Park. The World Finals consist of the top 10 anglers from the semifinals, which was comprised of the top two teams from each state from the previous two days of fishing, as well as the top 10 anglers from the “second-chance” round who were able to reel in...

'Hog Call' receives federal trademark FAYETTEVILLE (AP) — The University of Arkansas' distinctive "Hog Call" has been granted a federal trademark registration. The university announced Friday that it is believed to be the first college or university in the nation to receive a trademark for its cheer. The sound mark of the cheer and the previously registered, "Wooo Pig Sooie!" are intended to protect the institution's long-standing tradition and signature cheer from unlicensed comm...

Duggers take World Finals lead Day 2The River Valley High School Fishing team claimed the top three spots on day two of The Bass Federation (TBF) High School Fishing World Finals during Thursday’s unseasonably cool and rainy day at Lake Dardanelle State Park. Jake Dugger and Josh Dugger of Pottsville clinched the top spot with a weigh-in of 19.3 pounds Thursday, for a two-day total of 31.15. Tanner Jones and Tanner Tackett reeled in 10.14 pounds for a combined 30.05 across two d...